Floribunda rose plant named ‘GRAylw’

ABSTRACT

‘GRAylw’ is a new and distinct floribunda type  Rosa  hybrid cultivar which is characterized by the combination of an upright to semi-weeping, bushy growth habit, nearly continuous flowering, with flowers that exhibit a distinct strong, bright yellow color and moderate to strong fragrance and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation. The new cultivar is generally suited to landscape applications.

Latin name of genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and speciesof the novel variety disclosed herein is Rosa hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Rosa hybrid disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘GRAylw’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘GRAylw’ is a seedling selection which resulted from thecontrolled cross-pollination of an unnamed Rosa hybrid female breedingline (not patented) and an unnamed Rosa hybrid male breeding line (notpatented). Both parents, developed by the same inventor and nevercommercially released, exhibited traits deemed commercially significantand desirable.

After many years of trialing, the female parent was confirmed to possessa combination of desirable traits such as very strong fragrance andhaving flower color white, borne on a bushy plant growing to 1.2 m talland wide. The male parent was selected for use in breeding aftertrialing confirmed the presence of a modern flower color. During thespring of 2015, the female parent was emasculated and was manuallypollinated with pollen from the male parent. In winter of 2016, seed wascollected from hips produced by the female parent and a number ofseedlings were grown to a mature size, including the claimed plant.These progeny were further evaluated for desirable traits such as blackspot disease resistance and original flower color, and in January of2017 the claimed plant was first observed. In March of 2018, afterfurther evaluation for desirable traits, the claimed plant was deemed tobe garden-worthy and suited to widespread cultivation.. It was given thedenomination ‘GRAylw’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual propagation of ‘GRAylw’, by way ofsoftwood stem cuttings, was first performed in May of 2017 at theinventor's nursery in Highfields, Australia. Through more than twelvesubsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar rave provento be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed andrepresent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Rosa cultivar‘GRAylw’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘GRAylw’ as a newand distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAylw’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping        growth habit; and    -   2. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAylw’ flowers exhibit a distinct strong,        bright, yellow    -   3. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAylw’ exhibits nearly continuous flowering;        and    -   4. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAylw’ exhibits a double flower type; and    -   5. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAylw’ exhibits moderate to strong rose        fragrance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 6 month old‘GRAylw’ plant grown outdoors at the inventor's commercial nursery inHighfields, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical flower of‘GRAylw’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements, made in March of 2020,describe averages of two own-root specimens of one year old ‘GRAylw’plants. The plants were grown outdoors in a garden bed of a redkrasnozem soil in full sunlight, at the inventor's nursery inHighfields, Australia. No shade or supplemental light was provided.Temperatures ranged from approximately 17 to 35 degrees Celsius duringthe day and 7 to 18 degrees Celsius at night. Standard practices forirrigation, fertilizer and pest control were applied at appropriatetimes during the growing season. The plants were pruned three timesduring the growing season using accepted techniques for rose pruning.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘GRAylw’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2007 Fifth Edition except where commonterms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘GRAylw’ and comparisons with the parents andthe most similar commercial cultivar of Rosa hybrid are provided below.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright to semi-weeping.        -   Growth rate.—Approximately 8 months to reach 50 cm.        -   Dimensions.—80 cm tall and 60 cm wide.        -   Environmental tolerance.—Very good heat tolerance; cold            hardiness is unknown.        -   Disease resistance.—Excellent resistance to powdery mildew            (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and very high resistance blackspot            (Diplocarpon rosae).        -   Propagation.—Technique — Softwood stem cuttings. Time to            initiate roots — About 13 days at approximately 21 degrees            Celsius at root zone and 18 degrees Celsius ambient            temperature. Time to produce a rooted cutting — About 25            days at approximately 21 degrees Celsius at root zone and 18            degrees Celsius ambient temperature.-   Root system: White fibrous roots with many root hairs extending from    lesser roots in a featherlike arrangement.-   Branches:    -   -   Branching habit.—Irregular branching from mature branches,            breaking first from the uppermost buds near the apex of each            shoot.        -   Quantity.—Numerous.        -   General dimensions.—Approximately 60 cm long; 1.0 cm in            diameter near the base and tapering to 0.4 cm.        -   Immature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 0.5 cm. Texture            and pubescence — Smooth with prickles; glabrous. Color —            Near RHS 154B with anthocyanin present. Prickles — Density —            Sparse to moderate. Color — Near RHS 29D. Shape — Convex.            Texture — Smooth.        -   Mature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 0.8 cm, after one            year. Texture and pubescence — Smooth with prickles;            glabrous. Color — Near RHS 144C. Prickles — Density — Sparse            to moderate. Color — Near RHS 145D. Shape — Convex. Texture            — Smooth.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate imparipinnate compound leaves.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 7 per mature branch.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf internode length.—4.5 cm.        -   Dimensions.—Approximately 11 cm long and 8 cm wide.        -   Petiole.—Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —            Nearest to RHS 145A and margined RHS 144A. Texture and            pubescence — Smooth and glabrous. Prickles — Present.            Stipitate glands — Not present.        -   Stipule.—Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 0.4 cm wide. Color —            Nearest to RHS 145B. Texture — Pubescent. Margins — Ciliate.            Apex — Apiculate. Base — Winged. Prickles — Not present.            Stipitate glands — Not present.        -   Rachis.—Dimensions — 2.0 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —            Nearest to RHS 145A. Prickles — Present. Stipitate glands —            Not present.        -   Leaflets.—Quantity — 7 leaflets on axillary leaves.            Dimensions — Average size of the terminal leaflet is 5.5 cm            long and 4.5 cm wide. Shape — Ovate. Apex — Acute. Base —            cordate. Margins — Serrated. Texture, pubescence and luster,            adaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous, and semi glossy.            Texture, pubescence and luster, abaxial surface — Smooth,            glabrous, and matte. Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface            — Nearest to RHS 146C, with anthocyanin intonations.            Juvenile foliage color, abaxial surface — Nearest to RHS            145C, with anthocyanin intonations. Mature foliage color,            adaxial surface — Nearest to RHS 141B. Mature foliage color,            abaxial surface — Nearest to RHS 144D. Venation — Pinnate.            Venation color, adaxial surface — Nearest to RHS 144D, with            midrib RHS 144C. Venation color, abaxial surface — Nearest            to RHS 144B, with midrib RHS N144D. Petiolule — Dimensions —            0.2 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color — Near RHS 56B with            anthocyanin intonations present. Prickles — Not present.            Texture — Smooth.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers are clustered.        -   Blooming habit.—Almost continuous from October through June            in the southern hemisphere.        -   Time to flower.—6 to 8 weeks for a new stem to mature and            flowering begins to occur once a stem matures.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 7.0 cm long and 0.3 cm in diameter.            Color — Nearest to RHS 152D with no anthocyanin present.            Strength — Strong. Texture and pubescence — Smooth and            glabrous. Prickles — Not present.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Size.—2.0 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter.        -   Color.—Near RHS 144C with no anthocyanin present.-   Flower:    -   -   Calyx.—General — Comprised of five polysepalous sepals.            Diameter of calyx — 0.6 cm. Sepals — Color, interior surface            — RHS 145A. Color, exterior surface — RHS 144B with            anthocyanin. Dimensions — 3.5 cm long and 1.0 cm wide. Apex            — Apiculate. Base — Flat at union with receptacle. Quantity            — Five. Pubescence — Densely puberulent. Margins — Entire.            Stipitate glands — Not present.        -   Corolla.—General shape of corolla — Cupped and            irregularly-rounded with a tight outer whorl. Rate of            opening — 6 days from bud to anthesis. Dimensions —            Approximately 10 cm in diameter and 5.0 cm deep. Fragrance —            Moderate to strong rose scent. Lastingness — On the plant            for 5 days after anthesis. Persistence — Self-cleaning.            Petals — Petal count — Exhibits double flowers with            approximately 27 petals under normal conditions. Petal            arrangement — Irregularly rounded whorl at anthesis and            aging to a loose whorl. Dimensions — 4.0 cm long and 4.0 cm            wide. Petal shape — Obovate. Apex — Obcordate. Base —            Flattened, then obtuse. Petal reflex — Slightly reflexed at            apex. Petal margin — Entire; slightly undulating. Texture —            Soft. Aspect — Formal. Petal color, upon opening — Upper            surface — Nearest to RHS 5C becoming 9A at base. Lower            surface — Nearest to RHS 6B. Petal color, at anthesis —            Upper surface — Nearest to RHS 4D becoming 5B at base. Lower            surface — Nearest to RHS 6D. Fading — Nearest to RHS 9D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Anthers — Shape —            Narrow ovate. Length — 0.1 cm. Color — Nearest to RHS 5A.            Pollen — Abundant. Pollen Color — Nearest to RHS 3A.            Filaments — Color — Nearest to RHS 7A. Length —            Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Pistils.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Length — Approximately            1.0 cm. Stigma — Shape — Ovate. Color — Nearest to RHS 11B.            Style — Length — Approximately 0.8 cm long. Color — Nearest            to RHS 18C.        -   Ovary.—Dimensions — 0.5 cm long and 0.3 cm wide. Color —            Nearest to RHS 3D.        -   Receptacle.—Shape — Pitcher-shaped. Dimensions — 0.5 cm high            and 0.5 cm wide. Color — Nearest to RHS 141D.-   Hip and seed:    -   -   Hip.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm            wide. Texture — Smooth. Color — Nearest to RHS 142C.        -   Seed.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm            wide. Color — Nearest to RHS 144D.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENTS

The new rose plant ‘GRAylw’ may be distinguished from its seed parent,an unnamed breeding line, by the following combination ofcharacteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘GRAylw’ exhibit a distinct strong, bright        yellow coloration, whereas the flowers of the seed parent        exhibit an orange yellow coloration.    -   2. ‘GRAylw’ exhibits leaves semi glossy dark green, whereas the        seed parent has glossy mid-green leaves.    -   3. ‘GRAylw’ has moderate to strong rose fragrance, whereas the        seed parent has no fragrance.

The new rose plant ‘GRAylw’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent,an unnamed breeding line, by the following combination ofcharacteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘GRAylw’ exhibit a distinct strong yellow        coloration, whereas the flowers of the pollen parent exhibit a        strong yellow coloration with red edged petals.    -   2. ‘GRAylw’ exhibits leaves semi glossy dark green, whereas the        seed parent has glossy mid-green leaves.    -   3. ‘GRAylw’ has moderate to strong rose fragrance, whereas the        seed parent has no fragrance.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GRAylw’ may be distinguished from thecommercial variety Rosa hybrid ‘RADrazz’ by the following combination ofcharacteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘GRAylw’ are distinct strong, bright yellow        coloration, whereas the flowers of ‘RADrazz’ are a uniform dark        pink to cerise coloration.    -   2. Growth of ‘GRAylw’ is upright to semi-weeping with bushy        growth, whereas ‘RADrazz’ growth is upright.    -   3. ‘GRAylw’ has moderate to strong rose fragrance, whereas        ‘RADrazz’ has no fragrance.

That which is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rosa hybridplant named ‘GRAylw’, as described and illustrated herein.